Shares of several artificial intelligence-related companies moved higher in premarket trading on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration is considering a proposal that could give the American public a direct stake in leading AI businesses.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday, Trump revealed that discussions had taken place with major AI developers about a potential arrangement in which the federal government would hold an ownership interest in the sector.
“There’s something very interesting about it, where it almost becomes a partnership with the American public,” he said. “We’ll look into that.”
Chipmakers rally on potential government-backed AI initiative
Investors reacted positively to the comments, with a number of AI-focused stocks posting gains before the opening bell on Monday.
Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) rose more than 1% by 04:14 ET, while fellow semiconductor companies Marvell (NASDAQ:MRVL) and Micron (NASDAQ:MU) advanced between 4% and 7%. AMD (NASDAQ:AMD) and Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) also traded more than 1% higher. In contrast, Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) slipped 1.2%.
Trump indicated that executives from leading AI companies, including Anthropic, OpenAI and xAI, are expected to continue discussions at a White House meeting that could take place as early as next week.
Several of those firms are widely expected to pursue public listings in the coming months, with valuations potentially reaching into the trillions of dollars.
Government stake discussions gain momentum
The president’s remarks followed a report from digital news outlet NOTUS, which said senior U.S. officials had already held preliminary conversations with AI companies regarding the possibility of the government purchasing equity stakes in their businesses.
The Trump administration has previously shown a willingness to take direct positions in strategic industries, having acquired stakes in Intel as well as a number of rare earth and quantum computing companies.
The concept gained additional attention after Senator Bernie Sanders proposed legislation that would impose a one-time 50% tax on AI companies’ stock, with the proceeds directed into a U.S. sovereign wealth fund.
“The move would guarantee that the trillions created by AI are used to improve the lives of all of us,” Sanders said.
The proposal has faced criticism from several prominent technology investors and executives, including Silicon Valley venture capitalist and Trump adviser David Sacks.
White House continues to refine AI policy
Trump acknowledged that Sanders’ proposal had resonated with some voters and suggested that broader public participation in AI-related wealth creation could help address growing concerns about the technology’s impact on society.
The administration has faced challenges in defining a long-term regulatory framework for artificial intelligence. A planned signing ceremony for an AI-focused executive order in May was unexpectedly canceled after concerns emerged from industry participants regarding aspects of the proposal.
At the time, Trump said he opposed certain provisions because they could weaken the United States in its competition with China in the AI sector.
Earlier this week, the president signed a revised executive order that asks leading AI developers to voluntarily submit their most advanced models for government cybersecurity testing before public deployment.
Growing concerns over AI risks
Debate around AI regulation has intensified in recent months, partly following the launch of Anthropic’s advanced Mythos platform.
Industry experts have warned that the technology could significantly increase the sophistication of cyberattacks if misused, particularly in sectors such as financial services that rely on complex and ageing technology infrastructure.
As policymakers weigh the economic opportunities and risks associated with artificial intelligence, investors are closely monitoring whether the White House’s latest proposals could reshape ownership structures across one of the fastest-growing industries in the world.
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